Preventive Services for Families (PSF) is designed to preserve and strengthen family functioning in order to prevent child abuse and neglect. The Department’s goal is to assist families to recognize their potential to improve family functioning. By developing and maintaining a support network with friends, relatives and the community, parents can provide a loving and nurturing home for their children. The program builds on the family’s strengths to develop a plan with the family and teach them the needed skills to strengthen their family on their own. PSF promotes:

• strengths in families, and
• solutions with families, and
• successful families.

PSF is intended to help families who want help and or have been identified at risk for child abuse/neglect, but where actual abuse/neglect is not presently occurring.

Early intervention in family problems related to abuse and neglect will help to improve family functioning, thereby resulting in fewer referrals to Children’s Protective Services (CPS) and allowing children to remain in their homes.

Participation by a family in PSF is voluntary. A family can choose to not receive PSF services.